That Musky, Earthy Scent

Ahhh, digging in the fresh spring dirt! Is there anything more relaxing?

I've been kinda preoccupied lately with things (see above) but wanted to offer a few WAG updates.

Stop by the McDaniel-Tichenor House in Monroe this weekend, Sunday, May 4, to check out the fun pet show. There are always good crowds and lots of cute animals to look at. Sorry I can't be there, but I'd already planned on cleaning out my doghouse this weekend. Been putting it off way too long.

Gotta mention a huge WAG Thank-You to Joan and Wayne McMillan of Social Circle. These pet-loving folks recently downsized their home and donated lots of great furniture and items to WAG for fundraising purposes. We're talking truckloads of stuff! We greatly appreciate them thinking of us, particularly with all the worthy charities there are to choose from. We'll be making it available for sale - look for upcoming details on what/where/when coming soon.

In the meantime, relax and take a whiff of grass.

B.

Beagles on Wheels

What's more dangerous to fiddle with while driving - Fido or Nextel?

Apparently California officials think dogs are. They've introduced a bill that fines people for driving with pets in their lap. Police officers spotting Fluffy in the drivers seat would issue a citation to the owner. Then, after unceremoniously dumping Fluffy into the back seat, the owner could pick up their cell phone, call their best friend and swerve on down the road uninterrupted while yakking endlessly about the unfairness of it all.

Human logic - always makes perfect sense to me. (?????)

B.

Flea Report

Well, the fleas were hopping at our market this weekend! WAG early-risers got things cranked up at 8:30 am. Crowds were steady despite the morning drizzle, but the afternoon really perked up. Here's a few shots:

We raffled off this great handmade quilt. Congratulations to Debbie Jones who took it home with her!

Avery, the Labrador Retriever, and a kitten both left the adoption for new homes, so it was a great day for them. We sold a ton of stuff, made lots of money and are really happy with how things went. The WAG volunteers were am enthusiastic, hard-working bunch. In fact, plans are to hold another sale in fall, so stay tuned!

'Til later,

Buddy

The Fleas Are Coming!

Countdown to the Fleas Market - one day and counting. Please, Mother Nature, be kind in your weather decisions.

We've done a great job of collecting cool stuff. In fact, WAG members keep circling the goodies like vultures eyeing roadkill. But there's no buying ahead of time - they'll just have to get in there and wrestle for the prizes with everybody else!

Look for members wearing our new WAG t-shirts at the sale. Yes, they're all dressing up like clones now. But it could be worse. They could be wearing those giant sparkly velvet tassled Conehead- looking hats! Trust me, if that happens I'm outta here. Let 'em find some tacky cat to be their spokesanimal.

Anyway, there's life after the flea market and more WAG stuff going on. But I'll wait until afterwards to tell you about it. Don't want to confuse you with so much fun stuff all at once!

'Til later,

Buddy

That Lovely Wet Dog Smell

"Through rain, sleet or snow" might be the postal workers creed, but it doesn't seem to apply to potential adopters. Another bout of gray drizzly weather on Saturday doomed our April adoption day. Unfortunately, all the animals who came in the van left in the van - no new homes.

But every day is a new opportunity, right?

Our hardy volunteers didn't disappoint, though. Thanks to Lynn Turner, Cheryl and Joe Reynolds, Jessie Romer and Nancy Holdren, Laura Templeton, Lee Ann Wilkinson and a few more perhaps unmentioned. I wasn't there and my spies haven't reported all their sightings.

So we've made it through a blustery March adoption and a rainy April adoption. Mark my words - May will be a great one!

Welcome

I haven't been very good about keeping up with the new members coming on board. But here's a list of some who joined us over the last month or so: Maureen Lee, Diane Allen, Barbara Postlewaite, Bob and Shirley Guhl, Allison Cremeno, The Kevin Kerpics family, Donald Osborne, Samantha Craig, Joanna Cory, and Wayne and Carol Bond.

A pet-loving community - my favorite place to be.


B.

Oprah

Check out Oprah's show today - an expose of puppy mills. 4 pm on WSB-TV, Atlanta.

Not pretty, but a valuable story. We forget where those adorable $600 pet store puppies come from.

B.

Doggie/Kitty Donations

Don't forget to bring your donations for the April 19 Dogs and Fleas Market to Loganville this Saturday, April 5, from 12 - 4 pm. The address is 6050 Ga. Hwy 20 - take Hwy 20 from Loganville toward Conyers. The house is a few miles down on the left, look for the WAG signs. Folks will be there to help you unload.

So dig in and clean out those closets!

Plastic Love

When swans fall for a mate, it is for life. So imagine the predicament of a swan who fell in love with a peddle boat.

That is what happened to a rare Black Austrian swan in Germany named Petra when she caught sight of a peddle boat designed to look like a swan. That first look was all it took last year. Never mind her lover towered over her, never mind it was white, never mind it was made of plastic or that humans sat inside of it riding along the lake.

So lovestruck was Petra that she refused to abandon her mate and fly south for the winter, placing her at risk of dying during the cold winter.

Officials at a local zoo took pity on her and gave both Petra and her "boyfriend" quarters to spend the winter. Petra would snuggle in the space under her boyfriend's neck to keep warm.

When early spring came, zoo officials tried to pair Petra with a more suitable suitor, namely one with feathers. For several weeks the new pair cruised the lake and humans patted each others backs in glee. But it was not to be.

Petra's new beau grew bored and soon flew off, leaving her behind. To soothe Petra's hurt feelings, she was reunited with her plastic boyfriend.

Once again they swim the lake together, Petra circling her true love, making crooning sounds and endlessly staring at "him." She is a swan incurably in love. Petra and her lover have become a tourist attraction on the lake. Of course, her lover still gets rented out to families who wish to picnic on the lake. Petra accompanies him during his work day and the two spend the evenings snuggling.

Excuse me while my paw wipes away a tear.

'Til later, Buddy